title: Reliability of pedicle screw assessment utilizing plain radiographs versus CT reconstruction.
abstract: The position of 119 pedicle screws was assessed on plain antero-posterior and lateral radiographs taken immediately post-operatively and at 3 months' follow-up. The readings of five independent observers were compared with the "gold standard" of CT reconstructions. The position of only 41% of implants (range 14%-56%) was assessed correctly on the plain radiographs (47% on follow-up films). Two-thirds of CT-detectable perforations were missed. As shown with perforations of the anterior cortex, detectability increased significantly with magnitude of perforation. No specifically difficult anatomic level or direction of malplacement could be identified. Interobserver variation was considerable. Plain radiographs were shown to be of limited use in assessing the position of pedicle screws.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Inselspital, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Berlemann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heini
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stoupis
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schwarzenbach
mesh_terms: D001863:Bone Screws; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D015588:Observer Variation; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012447:Sacrum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome